TikTok Phenom Davis Burleson Tells Us What’s Poppin

Davis Burleson. You may not recognize his name yet, but chances are you’ve seen his face on Tik Tok. The 19-year-old Houston native behind the viral show What’s Poppin? has garnered a gargantuan following for his signature rapid-fire man-on-the-street interviews. With equal parts charm and wit, Burleson ambushes the unsuspecting New Yorkers who lounge on the benches of Washington Square Park, peppering them with questions about everything from reality TV, to romance, and eating pigeons. Burleson has only been at it for a year and a half, but the audience for What’s Poppin? has mushroomed—his videos regularly land upwards of a million views—and with an upcoming merch collection, a Project Runway cameo, and an expansion of the show on the way in 2022, the New School sophomore appears to be on his way to making it. As Burleson adjusts to his newfound fame, we decided to turn the tables on the sassy show host by asking him to answer a few questions from the writings of Andy Warhol. Below, Burleson spills the tea on that chiseled jawline, shares his thoughts on love, and tells us why The Devil Wears Prada changed his life. 

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INTERVIEW: What was your first job ever?

DAVIS BURLESON: I was a DoorDash driver, so I delivered food to people. Sometimes they would complain if I was taking too long, which was fair because sometimes I would double up on orders. 

INTERVIEW: What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever sent you?

BURLESON: My craziest fan experience was when I went on three dates with one of my followers. He recognized me on the street, and asked me to dinner immediately. I said yes—it was so impulsive and crazy of me. I ended up going on three dates with him, only to find out that he wasn’t gay, and he just wanted to be friends with me.

INTERVIEW: Do you think it’s okay that boyfriends can kiss and tell.

BURLESON: Ah, I think! I mean, I definitely do. So…

INTERVIEW:: Do you want to live forever?

BURLESON: It really just depends on how well I age, you know? How do I look? There’s only so much botox you can do, so we have to see.

INTERVIEW: Is there anything that you regret not doing?

BURLESON: No, I don’t think so. I feel like I have so much more life to live. No. I feel like, no, not yet.

INTERVIEW: What do you think about love?

BURLESON: I’m only 19, so I don’t think I’ve ever experienced love from a partner. But I definitely think love is real and I hope to find it one day.

INTERVIEW: What’s your favorite movie?

BURLESON: The Devil Wears Prada. I wanted to be Andy Sachs so bad when I first moved here.

INTERVIEW: What kind of clothes do you like now?

BURLESON: I love anything with a collar. I have a preppy style, but I also like to have a little edge. So, [I’m] never afraid of a leather jacket.

INTERVIEW: What are you most proud of?

BURLESON:  I’m most proud of the person I’ve become. I’m most proud of how confident I am with myself.

INTERVIEW: What are your beauty secrets?

BURLESON: That gua sha stone is a life changer. My jawline, it’s not real. It’s because of the gua sha. A gua sha is basically a piece of stone that you roll on your face, or you can do it wherever. I do it every morning and night, and that’s why my jawline is so sharp. That, and you can never use too much blush. 

INTERVIEW: What do you eat for breakfast?

BURLESON: Avocado toast with honey on top, every day. Every single day. 

INTERVIEW: What are you working on now?

BURLESON: I’m excited to continue working on What’s Poppin? and I have a merch line coming out sometime this year.  

INTERVIEW: Who’s your dream date?

BURLESON: Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye, or Harry Styles.

INTERVIEW:: What do you love about New York City?

BURLESON: I love that there’s always something to do, and you never can feel bored. You can be anybody you want here, no one really cares about you [Laughs]. You can literally do and be whoever you want.

INTERVIEW: Where do you dance?

BURLESON: Anywhere there’s music, I dance.

INTERVIEW: Why can’t it be magic all the time?

BURLESON: I think it can, I think there should be a little bit of magic every single day. Try to incorporate magic in your day as much as you can.